o connor



'3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBN'I'ED FEB. 20, 1906. J. F. OCONNOR. TANDEM SPRING DRAFT RIGGING FOR RAILWAY CARS.

unicum! nun snr'r. u, non4 No. 812,867. 4 `PATEHTED 20, 1905.

A LF. OGUNNOR. TANDEM SPRINGv DRAFT RIGGINQ FOR. RAILWAY CARS.

i union 1mm 5321.5. laos.

UNITED sTAijEsATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONNOIt, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T O W. ll. MlNlult COMPANY. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS` A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TANDEM-SPRING DRAFT-RIGGlNG FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

'Application Atiled September 1905. Serial No. 276.923.

To alt whoml it may concern.:

- Be it known that I, JOHN F'. OCoNNoR a citizen ofthe United States, residing in C icago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a newand useful Imrovement in Tandem-Sprin7 Draft-Rigging or Railway-Cars, of which t ie following is a specification.

y invention relates to improvements in tandem-spring draft-rigging' forrailway-cars.

'Ihe obJect of my invention is to provide a tandem-spring draft-ri ging ofa simple, efficient, strong, and durale construction cornposed of few parts and capable of being chen ly manufactured, in which both springs will he compressed under both pulling and bufling strains, and in which the customary intermediate stops or shoulders on the side plates or stopcastings may be dispensed with, as well as the customary intermediate abutment-block on the draw-bar strap or yoke, and in which the total length of the draft-rigging may be materially reduced or made to'aggregate simply the total length of the two tan three followers.

My invention consists in the means I employ to practically accomplish this object or result-that is to sa it consists, in connection with the draw-liar and draw-bar 'strap or yoke, each front and rear stops only and a pair o tandem-arranged springs, of front and rear followers, one bearings einst the front end of the front s ring and t e other against the rear end of tiie rear spring and .arranged to abut against the front and rear stops or shoul-A ders on the side plates or stop-castings, respectively, and reciprocate, one with vthe draw-bar in pulling and the other with the draw-bai' in buiing, and a pair of intermesh-l inor complementing skeleton intermediate fo owers betweenthe adjacent ends of the two springs adapted to slide and telescope in respect to each other, one being integral with the rear follower and the other integral with the front follower. Each of these intermediate intermesliing skeleton followers preferably comprises a continuous H-shaped crossbar and a slotted cross-bar. The two intermediate followers intermesli with and complement each other and lt flush together when the springs are no't compressed so that terniediate followers dem-springs and the thickness of-` of side plates orstop-castings havin they together occupy in this condition but the lon itudinal s ace equaling the thickness of one gillower, tli)e two intermediate followers together constitu ting a substantially coniplete transverse wall or partition between the adjacent ends of the two tandem-springs, so that the total length of the draft-rigging and the space re uired therefor may-be niaterially reduced,t eabutment-block between tlieintermediate followers being dispensed with, as well as the thickness or one ofthe inv owing to the fact that the intermediate -fol owers telescope or shut Hush together instead of simply fitting adjacent toeach other. In my invention m intermeshing Hush-fitting intermediate followers are connected, one with the rear follower and the other with the front follower, by a series of interfitting-telescopi tongues integral with the front and rearollowers, respectively, and with the intermediate follower connected thereto. In my invention both the front and rear follower are provided withan integral bottom serves as su ports for the invention a lowers is or may b e provided with inte ral projectinlegs or tongues,- which may a ut against s ouldeis on the upright integral sides of the opposing rearv an front follower to. limit the extent of compression ofthe springs.

' My' -invention also consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in the plate or web which springaand in ni novel combinations pf parts and devices herein shown and described.

- In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of .this specification, Figure l is aside elevation, partly in central verticaal section, of a tandem-spring draft-rig in r embodying my invention, in this view t e springs being omitted to better show. the other parts. Fig. 2fis a plan view, artl in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a ver-tica section online 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa detail pers eetive view showing the front follower and t e intermediate skeleton H-shaped cross-,bar and slotted cross-bar follower "connected thereto and formed integrally therewith. Fi 5 is a detail erspcctive view of the rear Iollower and oi)the iiitermediate skeleton or H-shaped crossdmr andslotted cross-bar follower integrally connected thereto. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail so each of the intermediate fo f and a slotted,

intermef. inte follower l*` cross-sections on lines 6 and 7 7 of Fig. l, res ectively.

n the rawings, A represents the center sills' A the front or end sill; A', the bufferbloclr A, the buffer-plate; A, the carry-iron and the draft tlmbers or longitudinal frame-pieces of the car, to which the side plates or stop-castings of the draft-rigging are secured.

B is the coupler, B the draw-bar, and B the draw-bar strap or yoke, secured to the draw-bar in the usual manner. i

C C are the side plates or stop-castings, each having e front stop c and e rear sto for the front and rear followers to a ut against.

D is the front follower, and D the rear follower, and E and E are tandem-arranged springs, there being alsopreferabl a small spring e within the sprmE an a small spring e within the spring F and F are the two intermediate intermeshing flush-fitting skeleton followers, the one, F, mtevral with the front follower D and the other, F', integral with the rear follower D', the two intermediate followers sliding and telesco ing to ether and constituting a substanti y compFete transverse wall or partition between the adjacent ends of the two E E when the rings are in their extended or uncontracte position, as will be readily understood from Fig. 3 and from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Each of these intermeshing flush-fitting intermediate skeleton followers F F comprises, preferably, a substantial H-shaped roken or non-continuous cross-bar f j, the upright webs j" j'Il of the continuous H- haped cross-bars f fitti in the slots or openings j" of t e slott or non-continuous crossars df j. When the ipx-ings are not compresse as illustrated in i 2, it will thus be seen that the adjacent en of both tandem-springs abut each directly against both of the intermeshing flushfitting intermediate skeleton followers F F', as these two intermediate followers complement each other and telescope together and occupy but the thickness of the one. When the springs are compressed, however, the in remediate follower F which is integral with the front follower D, ears e ainst the front end of the rear spring E an com resses it., while the other intermediate fo ower which is integral with the rear follower D', bears against the rear end of the front spring and com reines it. The crnss-barsff of the are connected intefollower l) by integral which inturlit with the corresponding lmigitudinnl tongues or lr fs. of the other intermediate follower l"' um which pro'oc-.t from the integral upri rhl. side walls d am d' of the front follower l nlnl rear follower D', respectively. lho front follower grally with the front. tongues or legsf continuous cross-bar f eraser D has an integral bottom plate or web d, and the rear follower D' a corresponding integral bottom plate or web d, which serve to support the springs and to give additional strength to the several followers as a whole in their ooperative action or combination, The intermediate followers F F', preferabl are furnished with integral extenslons f jpl' of the lege or tongues f f, respectively, which may abut against shoulders d* d on the upright side walls d d of the front and rear followers D D', res ectivel to limit the telescopic movement o the fo lowers in respect to each other and the extent of compression o the sprin The sexies of extension-legs f f 1 inte t and telesco e with the series of extensiomle s lhff. he bottom plates or webs d d o t e ont and rear folowers are preferably curved at d d to correspond substantially to the curvature of the sprin resti thereon, and the upright side walls d d of t e front and rear followers D D may be preferably curved or chambered into a substantially U- haped form on the inside at d d to conform to the springs and permit the ready insertion and removal of the springe through the openings at the top. The fo lowers D D' having the integral bottom plates d2 d,.it between the upper and lower webs of the draw-bar strap or yoke B2 and reciprocate upon and are sup1 orted by the removable guide or tie plate secured to or beneath the side plates or stop-castings C by the bolts g.

I claim- 1. ln a tandem-sprirg draft-ri ging, the combination with the draw-bar an draw-bar strap, of side plates or stop-castings having front and rear stops, tandemarrange springs, a front follower bearing against the front end of the front spring, a rear follower hearing against the rear end of the rear spring and two intcrmeshir. ,flush-fitting, telescoping skeleton interme iate followers, one int/egral with the front follower and the other integral with the rear follower, the two intermediate, llush-fitting followers both engaging the adjacent ends of each sprin when the springs are not compressed, an sliding or tolcscoping in respect to each other to romress t e s rings, and integral int-critl-ing on ritudinal v-cxtendiug tongues connecting sai( interino int-c followers und the front and rear followers respectively substantially as speci lied 2. In a tamlmn-spring draft-ri ging, the mnnhinalion with lludrnw-hnr mu drow-har IDO stru-p, nl' sido plaira-i or stop-castings lowing front and rem' stops, lnndrm-arranged les tongues connecting said intermediate followers und th(l front and rear followers respectively substantially as spccilied.

55, In a tandem-sprii-.g draft-rig ing, the combination with the draw-bar and raw-har strap. ol' side plates or stop-castings having front and rear stops, tandem-arrange springs, front and rear followers, and two intermeshing skeleton intermediate followers adapted to shut together when the sprinfrs are not compressed and to telescope or slide apart when the springs are compressed, and two interlitthw sets of integral tongues, one set integral with one of said intermediate followers for connecting it with the front follower, and the other set integral with the other intermediate fol-lower for connecting it p'ih the rear follower, substantially as speci- 4. In a tandem-spring draft-rirving, the combination with the draw-bar ami7 raw-bar strap, of side plates or stop-castings having front and rear stops, tandemarranged springs7 front ard rear followers, and two intermeshing skeleton intermediate followers adapted to shut together when the`sprngs are not compressed and to telescope or slide apart when the s rings are compressed, said intermeshing ske eton intern'lediate followers being inte' al -one with the front follower, a..d the ot er with the rear follower, and integral interfitting longitudinallyextending tongues connecting said intermediate followers and the front and rear followers respectively substantially as specified.

5. 4In a tandern-s`pring draft-rig ing, the combination with the draw-bar and raw-bar strap, olf side plates or stopcastings havin@r front and rear stops, tandem-arrange springs, front and rear followers, and two intermeshirg skeleton interniediate followers adapted to shut together when the springs are not compressed and to telescope or sli e apart when the springs are compressed, said intermeshing skeleton intermediate followers having each an H-shaped continuous crossbar and a slotted cross-bar, substantially as specified.

6. In a tandem -spring draft-rigging, the combination with tandem-arranged springs, of front and rear followers, and two complementirg or intermcshir g skeleton intermediate followers adapted to shut together when the sprin s are not compressed, and to tele scope or s ide a art to compress the springs, whereby the adiacent ends of the two tandem springs.are adapted to be brought close together or be separated a distance onl equal to the necessary thickness of one folI lower, and in tcgral in tel-fitting longitudinallyextendirg tongtws connecting said intermediate followers and the front and rear follow- Vers respectively substantially as specified.

7. In a. tandem spring draft-rigging, the

rear followers, and two cornplementimy or in termeshing skeleton intermediate fol owers, on of said intermediate skeleton followers being integral with the front follower and the other with the rear follower, and integral interfitting longitudinally-extending tongues' connecting said intermediate followers and the front and rear followers respectively substantiall)r as specified.

8. In a tendem-spring draft-rigging, the combination with tandem springs, front and rear followers, and two complementirw or intermeshing skeleton intermediate followers, one of said intermediate skeleton followers being integral with the front follower and the other with the rear follower, one of said intermediate followers having extensiowlegs to limit the follower movement and the compression of the springs, substantially as specified.

9. In a tandem -spring draft-rigging, the combination with tandem springs, front and rear followers, and two complementin or intermeshing skeleton intermediate fol owers, one of said intermediate skeleton followers being integral with the front follower and the other with the rear follower, said inter1nediate followers having interfitting extensionle s engagin shoulders on the front and rear fo lowers to imit the movement and the cornrfssion of the springs, substantially as specie 10. In a tandem-spring draft-rie g, the combination with the draw-bar an aw-bar strap, of side plates or stop-castings having front and rear stops, tandem-arrange springs, front and rear followers, and two intermesln'ng skeleton intermediate followers adapted to shut together when the sprin s are not com ressed and to telescope or sli e apart when he springs are compressed, a plurality of integral tongue connections between one of said intermedi-ate followers and the front follower and a plurality of integral ton e connections between the other interme iate follower and the rear follower, said tongue connections ofthe one intermediate follower interfitting and alternating with those of the other intermediate follower substantially as specified.

11. In a tandem-spring draft-riffging, the combination with tandem-arrange springs, of a front follower having an integral bottom los plate or web, a rear follower having an integral bottom plate or web and two complementing or intermeshing skeleton intermediate followers adapted to shut together when the springs are not compressed, and to telesctpe or slide apart to compress the s rings, an integral interfitting longitudin lyextendin tongues connecting said intermediate fol owcrs and the front and rear followers respectively substantially as specified.

12. In a tandem-spring draft-rigging, the

and i combination with tandem-arranged springs,

of n' front follower having im integral bottom plate nr web, a rem' follower having an integrnl bottom plnte or web and two oompleinenting or intermeshing skeleton intermdi- 5 ate followers :tilepted to shut together when the sprin s arenot compressed, and to telescope or s ide apart to com ressvthe springs, the ends of seid integral ottom plates or webs on the front and rear followers abutting iQ together to limit the compression of the springs, substantially as specified f 13. In a. tandem-spring draft-rig ing, the combination with tandem springs, ont and rear followers having integral bottom plates x 5 or webs and integral side walls, and two complementinv or intermeshing skeleton intermed iete fdllowers integral one with the fron't follower and the other with the rear follower, and integral intertting longitudinally -^ex zo tendine' tongues connecting said intermediate lfell-lowers with the front and rear follow# ers, res actively, substantially as specified.

14: n n tandem-spring dreft-rig ing, the combination with tandem springs, ont and` 25 rear followers having integral bottom plates or webs and integral side walls,.nnd two complementing or intel-meshing skeleton interfollower and the other with the rear follower,-

and integrelinterfitting longitudinally-extendinv tongues connecting seid intermedi' ete fol owersffith the front and rear follow- -ers respective] said intermediate followers lutvingr intel tting extension-legs, substantially as specified.

15. In'a. tandem-springidraft-rig `ng, the combination with tandem-errang springs, front and rear followers, and two interttiug 'teli-:scoping H-sheped and slotted cross-bnr itdermediate followers, substantially es speci- 16. In a. tandem-spring,draft-rigging, the combination with tandem-arranged springs, front and rear followers, and two interlitting telescopng .I1-shaped 4end 'slotted cross-bar intermediate followers, one of said intermediatey followers bein integral with the'front follower and the ot er with the rear follower, substantially as specified.

JOHN F. o'CoNNoR. 'Witnesses: A A

H. M. MUNDA'Y,

PEARL inmns. 

